The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-17
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
A Hundred Thousand Pounds of Powder Fired
The Famous Cliff House Wrecked.

SAN FRANCISCO Jan. 16.--At midnight last
night the Merchants Exchange received tele-
phone message from Point Labes signal station
that the schooner Parallel had been driven on
the rocks near Golden Gate. and probably
would prove a total loss An hour later an
other message was received. stating that an i'm
mense quantity of giant powder aboard the
schooner had blown up, destroying the Cliff
House and other buildings shore
in the neighborhood Reporters and police
officers were hurriedly dispatched to the scene
of the disaster, and the following particulars
were obtained: The Parallel sailed on Friday
asst with cargo of general merchandise. for
Astoria Ore She proceeded north until
compelled by strong head winds to return She
reached the entrance to the Golden Gate yester-
day evening. The wind had died ont, and being
caught by strong tide the vessel was swept
ashore at the south end of Point Labes, inside
the famous seal rocks, opposite the Cliff
House. The life-saving station people near
by were promptly notified and hast
ened to the scene of the wreck.
The captain and all hands aboard had taken to
the boats, but as it was impossible for them to
make landing on the heavy surf then running
tHey StOOu away IOE al cukFauc6 10 lu6 mar DOF
After being abandoned, the vessel drifted south
into small cove, whore she pounded against the
rocks, and at midnight was rapidly breaking up
1t was known that she had large quantity of
powder aboard, but no danger was apprehended.
The men from the life-savng station. seeing
nothing could be done, and knowing the schooner
had been abandoned by her officers and
crew, withdrew at few minutes before o'clock
from the scene They had hardly reached the
station building when fearful explosion oc-
Cured, scattering destruction. on all sides. The
schooner, in beating against the rocks had
caused the powder to ignite, and the entire
quantity aboard-nearly a hundred thousand
pounds-had exploded. To those living in the
neighborhood the effect was frightful The sig
nal station was completely demolished The life
the west side of the Cliff House. not
withstanding its elevation. was blown ont
and every window pane in the building broken.
A large concert-room on the beach and other
buildings lower down had all their windows
broken. and were otherwise more or less dam
aged. The long carriage shed adjoining the
Cliff House was tumbled into mass of ruins.
Adoiph Aetroos conservatory. on the heights
| above. was shattered to atoms and
all the windows in his house broken Three
members OF the life-saving crew. who bull,
| fire on the beach and decided to remain
near the wreck were hurled in the air by the
| conclusion and severely injured in being again
| dashed to the earth. The remaining members
| of the crew. who had returned to the station
| rushed to the rescue of the injured. as it was
| feared their close proximity to the explosion
must have resulted to their injury They car
| ried them to the station, where medical atten
ton was summoned and everything necessary t.
relieve their injuries done. One of them
| Horace Smith. had his limns SO frishtfully dis
| jointed as to make his sufferings intense For
| time his life was despared Of The two others
| Charles Rogers and John Wilson, escaped with
1 less serious injuries.
| Captain Haysip, in command of the lifesavine
| station, describes the explosion as follows: "a
! o'clock the sleepers we're thrown from theil
| beds by the great explosion. which made then
/ think that great earthquake had upheaved tn,
cliff, tidal wave swept from the Pacific. 4
| great wave dashed up and vaulied over the Cliff
| House building. The whole shore and cliff lit
orally trembied and shook earthquake hal
| shaken the earth for years The people wer,
rudely thrown from their beds by the force O
the explosion. The furniture and bedstead
/ were tossed and heaped about the room"
1 The famous Cliff Heuse presents scene be
/ yond description. The west side Of the building
overlooking the ocean. is completely ruined. ant
/ is only held together by the cross beams wja
/ dows are smashed, doors twisted off their hinges
and left in such shattered condition that its ow n
ers will have take down what is left OF it. eve,
| if it does not topple over into the ocean.